Edited by Robert W. Marans, Research Professor Emeritus, Institute for Social Research and Professor Emeritus of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Michigan, US, Robert J. Stimson, Emeritus Professor of Geography, University of Queensland, and Honorary Professorial Fellow of Geography, University of Melbourne, Australia and Noah J. Webster, Associate Research Scientist, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, US

• Contents:Preface xixPART I QUALITY OF LIFE: A UNIVERSAL PERSPECTIVE1 Complexity and diversity of quality of life-related research 2Robert J. Stimson, Robert W. Marans and Noah J. Webster2 Overview of approaches to measurement and empirical analysis ofquality of life and well-being 13Robert J. Stimson, Robert W. Marans and Noah J. Webster3 Investigating happiness: a socio-spatial inequalities perspective 26Thanasis Ziogas and Dimitris Ballas4 Understanding environmental impacts on people’s quality of life viaenvironmental psychology: three basic principles 44Marino Bonaiuto and Valeria ChiozzaPART II QUALITY OF LIFE: MEASUREMENT APPROACHES5 Objective approaches to investigating and measuring quality of life andwell-being 60Robert J. Stimson6 Investigating subjective quality of life: using survey research methods 78Robert J. Stimson and Robert W. Marans7 Integrating subjective and objective measures in quality of life research 93Robert J. Stimson, Rod McCrea, Robert W. Marans and Noah J. Webster8 Assessing alternative air quality measures and their impact on quality oflife: the case of Hong Kong 110Poh-Chin Lai, Chien-Tat Low, Si Chen, Robert Stimson, Ester Cerin, WeiCheng, Jimmy Fung and Paulina Pui-Yun Wong9 How neighbourhood social and built environments influence socialinteractions: differences between life stages 127Piret Veeroja, Greg Foliente, Rod McCrea, Hannah Badland, Chris Pettit andJennifer DayPART III QUALITY OF LIFE IN METROPOLITAN AREAS, CITIESAND NEIGHBOURHOODS10 Quality of life in large-scale, big-city urban environments: a world perspective 146Robert W. Marans and Robert J. Stimson11 Pathways from compact city to subjective well-being: evidence fromOslo, Norway 164Kostas Mouratidis12 The role of neighbourhoods in quality of life: toward a comprehensive model 181Robert Gifford, Leila Scannell, Christine Kormos, Jessica Rourke andAmanda J. McIntyre13 Exploring quality of life in new towns: an overview 198Robert W. Marans and Noah J. Webster14 The influence of urban layout on perceived residential quality ina Costa Rican suburb 213Helga von-Breymann and Esteban Montenegro-MontenegroPART IV QUALITY OF LIFE IN SMALL TOWNS, RURAL AREASAND MIGRATION COMMUNITIES15 Quality of life in small towns: a mid-American case study 229Rodrigo F. Cantarero and James J. Potter16 Subjective community well-being and resilience in a rural regionexperiencing rapid change 243Rod McCrea, Rosemary Leonard and Andrea Walton17 Quality of life, amenities and recent migration across the largest USmetropolitan areas 257Gordon F. MulliganPART V PUBLIC SPACES, QUALITY OF LIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT18 Residential neighbourhoods, nearby nature and quality of life 274Sara Hadavi19 Effects of environmental degradation on neighbourhood satisfactionand quality of life 293Byoung-Suk Kweon and Christopher D. Ellis20 Nature-based solutions and quality of life: protecting, restoring andbuilding human capacities 307Marino Bonaiuto and Susana AlvesPART VI AGEING, PLACE AND QUALITY OF LIFE21 The importance of place-making for quality of life in later life:contrasting home and hospital environments 322Hans-Werner Wahl, Julia Kirch, Kathrin Büter and Gesine Marquardt22 Quality of life of older adults in continuing care retirement communities 338Liat Ayalon23 How urban environments affect quality of life in oldersocio-demographic groups: the role of physical activity behaviour 354Casper J.P. Zhang, Anthony Barnett, Wai-Kit Ming, Poh-Chin Lai, Ruby S.Y.Lee and Ester Cerin24 Neighbourhood characteristics linked to quality of life amongvulnerable older adults 371Noah J. Webster and Toni C. Antonucci25 Conceptualising contextual variation in older adults’ quality of lifecross-nationally: challenges and opportunities 386Christine A. MairPART VII A LOOK AHEAD26 Overview and future directions 402Robert W. Marans, Robert J. Stimson and Noah J. Webster

'Overall, the book is a rich, well-researched and altogether pleasant read on a bourgeoning topic that ramifies into broader debates concerning how we plan for, imagine and experience the places and spaces we inhabit. The chapters can be read independently, as each provides a focused overview of the literature, and most include an empirical case that illustrates the research problem at hand. The book emphasizes the complexity of the field, conceptually, disciplinarily and methodologically, while providing a harmonizing overview and a basis for future research.'